June 15 2011 Folklore and Mythology Newsletter

Greetings to all folks near and far.

For folks living in states with wild fires, I send prayers for help. Please make sure to guard against the dangers of smoke inhalation as much as possible.

The effects of smoke range from eye and respiratory tract irritation to more serious disorders, including reduced lung function, bronchitis, aggravation of asthma and other lung diseases. Contact your state health agencies for more help and information in your area. In areas with wildfire smoke, older adults, people with respiratory or heart disease, and parents of infants should be careful to limit outdoor activity until air quality improves.

Once upon a time, a long time ago, in the Pacific Northwest, there lived a magical bird named Raven. Raven was a shape shifter. He could turn himself into a man and then back again into a bird simply by pulling his beak over his head, like a mask.